Emily Carter is carrying her track momentum into the fall.
The Bethel Park junior picked up her second win in as many weeks to open to season. At the Red, White & Blue Classic at Schenley Park in Pittsburgh, Carter went 17:41 for the win in a race that saw two others dip under 18 minutes.
While Carter won last week by over a minute at the Marty Uher Invitational, but this week, it was a much more loaded field. Carter battled with Morgantown (WV)'s Lea Hatcher and Moon Area's Mia Cochran for much of the race. In the final mile, she was able to break free from Hatcher and outkick her to the finish to pick up win No. 2 on the season.
That time is a major course record on the Schenley Oval's new layout. Carter was strong last cross country season, but really took her star turn on the track. Now the junior is making her way in the XC spotlight in Pennsylvania, as well as nationally.
Hatcher took second in 17:45, right behind Carter. Cochran, a sophomore, was third in 17:54.
In the team race, the North Allegheny girls proved why they are the state's best. NA opened up their season with a repeat win at Red, White & Blue, scoring 57 points for the win. Without 2018 top 3 runner Rachel Hockenberry in the lineup, the Tigers still put forth a dominating team performance. Hannah Lindgren led the way with a sixth place finish. Keeley Misutka was eighth and freshman Alexa Sundgren made her presence felt in her high school debut, taking 11th, proving NA has even more depth than expected this season.
Seneca Valley was second with 92 points, followed by Morgantown (WV), which took third with 137 points.
Check out an interview with Carter below and more Red, White & Blue coverage links below:
